Flourishing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study in South Africa.

In this longitudinal study, we examine changes in psychological distress and multidimensional well-being from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among South African adults. As a secondary purpose, we explore whether pre-pandemic flourishing is protective against subsequent psychological distress during the public health crisis. The analytic sample (n = 293; Mage = 44.27, SD = 14.28; female = 65.19%) completed measures of anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and well-being shortly before the stringent nationwide lockdown started in South Africa (T1). A follow-up assessment was completed approximately 6 months later (T2). Paired samples t-tests supported very small improvements in anxiety (d = -0.09) and depression symptoms (d = -0.13). For domains of well-being, small increases were found in close social relationships (d = 0.25) and financial and material stability (d = 0.19). Positive changes in the domains of character and virtue (d = 0.10) and meaning and purpose (d = 0.07) were very small. Changes in physical and mental health (d = -0.03) and life satisfaction and happiness (d = 0.02) were more negligible. Results from the generalized linear models indicated that continuous scores of secure flourishing assessed before the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with lower subsequent psychological distress (particularly depression symptoms) during the public health crisis. We discuss the implications of the findings for the development and delivery of interventions to promote and sustain human flourishing during public health crises, especially in contexts of social-structural vulnerability.

Hope and well-being in vulnerable contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic: does religious coping matter?

To identify potential protective mechanisms that might buffer the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on well-being, the current set of studies (N Study 1 = 1172, N Study 2 = 451) examined the roles of hope and religious coping (positive and negative) in promoting well-being during periods when stringent stay-at-home orders were implemented in Colombia and South Africa to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. After controlling for relevant sociodemographic characteristics (Studies 1 and 2), subjective health complaints, and sleep quality (Study 2), hope was positively associated with well-being and the relation between hope and well-being was moderated by religious coping. Whilst well-being was highest when levels of hope were high (irrespective of positive or negative religious coping levels), when reported hope was low, well-being tended to be higher when positive religious coping was high (Study 1) and negative religious coping was low (Study 2). Implications of the findings for maintaining well-being during a public health crisis are discussed. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.